ONLINE SHOPPING IS UP:

U.S. online shoppers, who set spending and traffic records on Thanksgiving Day and the “Black Friday” that followed, were expected to break new ground again as they returned to work on what some are calling “Blue Monday.” . . .

While Black Friday refers to the bustling shopping day that starts brick-and-mortar retailers’ move from “the red” to “the black,” Blue Monday — a name inspired by the Web’s blue links — is one of the biggest days for online retailers as workers return to their jobs, and fast Internet connections.

Businesses: Let your employees surf at work. The economy depends on it!